diff --git a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java
index 95a2d8695..81470da3f 100644
--- a/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java
+++ b/spring-batch-infrastructure/src/main/java/org/springframework/batch/item/file/FlatFileItemReader.java
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public class FlatFileItemReader extends AbstractBufferedItemReaderItemStream imp
 		Object record = "";
 		int index = itemIndex + (firstLineIsHeader?1:0) + linesToSkip;
 		while (reader.getPosition() < index && record != null) {
-			readLine();
+			record = readLine();
 		}
 	}